Composers
Luis Bonilla
The son of Costa Rican parents, Luis Bonilla was born and raised in Los Angeles. His first musical encounter at Eagle Rock/Senior High school was an accidental one. " I thought beginning brass was a metal working class." But instead of a soldering gun, the instructor handed him a horn. Luis promptly developed serious intentions toward the instrument, heating up the brass to collect many awards and win a scholarship to California State University in Los Angeles where he earned a Bachelors of Music degree.
Luis Bonilla (trombonist) has performed with greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Henry Mancini, and The New American Orchestra. He has also performed with Latin greats such as Celia Cruz, Camilo Azuquita, Poncho Sanchez and others. Moving from L.A. to new York has provided Luis to perform steadily with Lester Bowie, The Charles Mingus Big Band, Astrud Gilberto, Toshiko Akioshi,William Cepeda, and Carla Bley, among others. A regular on club, concert and festival stages worldwide, Bonilla is no stranger to the recording studio, playing sessions with Gerry Mulligan, Tony Bennett, Billy Childs, and young Latin sensations Mark Anthony, La India, and DLG(Dark Latin Groove) to name a few. Luis Bonilla has received praise for his first C.D. at the age of 25 with "Pasos Gigantes"(Candid).
His recent foray as a producer generated his own second CD,"E'cucha". Ever restless to explore the newest musical terrain with the greatest creative authenticity, Luis Bonilla moves on to his next challenge in a sparkling career.
